One World Record, 464 days in a cave and a million memories. We give you the forgotten hero who spent over a year under a sky made of stone and thus made a home for himself in the Guinness book of World Records.
Impossible, terrifying, inspiring and courageous. These are the four words we would use to describe the unusual story of Milutin from the village of Kopajkošare near Svrljig. This speleologist from Serbia was once a hero, and the world knew of the Samar cave. Today, barely anyone remembers this cave and her famous inhabitant. And it all began on a hot summer day in July 1969…
This is the day the ambitious Milutin decided to embark on a very unusual journey that would turn out to be an adventure of a lifetime. He wasn’t intimidated by the possible repercussions and didn’t flinch when he encountered numerous obstacles. He instead found sponsors and managed to organise the longest stay underground any man had ever to that point undertaken.
Milutin kept contact with the outside world using radio. He also had medicine, cans of food, a stove, gas and various instruments to measure temperature and humidity.
At the time, he was competing with a French man who held the current Guinness World record. Milutin didn’t know if he would manage to succeed. The Frenchman had spent 109 days in a cave, and Milutin had only strong will, tenacity and a desire to fully research the cave in which he grew up. That turned out to be more than enough.
Not only did he break the existing world record, but Milutin Veljković broke it by outstaying the Frenchman for four times. Believe it or not he spent an amazing 464 days under a stone sky! Worldwide media reported on this brilliant venture, and Milutin Veljković, the village of Kopajkošare and the Samar cave gained world fame.
Milutin even wrote a book on the time he spent in the cave. It was entitled “Under the stone sky” and it was based on the journal he led during these lonely days.
After more than a year spent in the great hall of this dark cave, Milutin was greeted by thrilled locals. He walked through the excited crowd with his now long beard and hair. This whole event was a sensation at the time, but gradually it fell into oblivion.
However, it was never totally forgotten. Even today, there is always a person who remembers the story of the Samar cave and its only and most interesting inhabitant. The cave is still engulfed in nature’s warm embrace, on the slopes of the Kalafat mountain, surrounded by hills above which the top of mt Ozren peaks. These whole area is rich in beautiful landscapes and untouched nature.
Here, you can marvel at the cave’s stone bridge, a plunging stream which appears with daybreak and a marvelous waterfall located at the other end of the cave. We needn’t even speak of the fresh air and the intoxicating smell of nature. So, consider visiting this interesting place in the south of Serbia. Who knows, maybe you’ll run into a local who’ll tell you all there is to know about Milutin’s adventure.
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